And Even More On The Tristan Project

First-rate classical music critic for the Financial Times, Martin Bernheimer, had this to say about last night's New York premiere of The Tristan Project:

Unfortunately, [videographer Bill] Viola trivialised the monumental score at every turn. He illustrated Isolde’s narrative and curse with a distracting slow-motion striptease for the protagonists’ videogenic doubles, and called the nudity exposé a purification ritual. Elsewhere he splashed irrelevant water-images across the screen – endless aquatic ballets and enough wavy seascapes to induce mass mal de mer. Reinforcing the pretentious claptrap, Sellars dabbled in spatial and acoustic gimmickry, making some characters pop up in side-loges and banishing the sailors’ chorus to the top balcony. Most telling, the ageless enfant terrible contributed a chatty programme synopsis that included this gem of enlightenment: “King Mark was Tristan’s first lover.” Who would have guessed?

Who indeed.

And as to Mr. Bernheimer's comments on Mr. Viola's contribution, Why are we not surprised (see this post)?